led 3f, tracked leader, joined leader 6f out, ridden 4f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, led after 3f, pushed along and joined 6f out, ridden 4f out, headed over 1f out, keeping on one pace when lost 2nd final strides
squeezed start, held up in touch in rear, headway on outer to press leaders over 3f out, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on
tracked leaders, ridden and switched left over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd final strides
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, short of room over 2f out, hung right and kept on, one pace final 2f
MARCUS ANTONIUS has already won over this C&D and was only beaten a length-and-a-half when third over 2m2f at Pontefract on his reappearance. Jim Boyle's four-year-old looks sure to be thereabouts here and makes more appeal than last month's Kempton runner-up My Valley. Not Til Monday has been in good form over hurdles but today's faster ground could be a problem while the lack of a recent run could count against Stormy Morning, though he was placed twice over 1m6f last year. Swordsman goes well here but may be a fraction high in the weights ahead of his return to action.
Swordsman (GER) 11-4 (9-12) Tracked leaders, led over 7f out, ridden and headed narrowly entering final furlong, kept on gamely towards finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Saborido (10-0) at Folkestone 1m 7f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug.
Not Til Monday (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Pressed leader, ridden and every chance 2f out to over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 11, 6l behind Dalhaan (9-11) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
My Valley (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Tracked leader, led over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Kadouchski (8-9) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Mar.
Stormy Morning 4-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 3l behind Straversjoy (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Marcus Antonius 9-1 (8-10) Keen in touch, led 2f out, ridden and headed just inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Descaro (9-12) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Morar 9-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders on outer and keen, pushed along and weakened over 2f out, eased over 1f out, last of 12, well behind Phoenix Flight (10-0) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.